This was never a match made in heaven. This was never a fit. This was a marriage of convenience that is not convenient anymore. And it’s time for them to go their separate ways. And they better do it soon before it’s too late.

Dalvin Cook was never going to be what he was with the Minnesota Vikings with New York Jets. It was a move that frankly had me scratching my head when they made it during training camp.

Dalvin Cook believes himself to be a workhorse back. The Jets believed they already had one of those in Breece Hall. The question was, would Breece Hall be able to return to his rookie year form. The answer is a resounding “yes”. 

So, where does that leave Cook, who believes he should be getting the lion’s share of the touches? On the bench.

“It’s obviously been a different situation for me to be in,” Cook said. “Just coming from where I come from, just being productive in this league to not getting as many touches and stuff like that. You just adjust. You still sharpen your iron. That’s what I do every day. I prepare the same way as I prepared any other year. It’s still the same for me. It’s just game day is a little different.”

Cook said he would not go to Jets GM Joe Douglas and ask for a trade, but acknowledged his frustration.

“Of course it’s frustrating,” Cook said. “I’m an honest person. I want to play. Yeah, it’s frustrating. It’s new to me. I come from getting the ball 20 times a game or however many times. Yeah, of course it’s frustrating.”

Cook has 39 rushing attempts for 109 yards, an average of 2.8 yards per carry, and no touchdowns. He's last amongst qualified running backs in yards per carry. Hall, on the other hand has 66 attempts for 426 yards (317 more than Cook), 6.5 yards per carry and two touchdowns.

Robert Saleh suggested Friday that he isn't worried Cook is expressing frustration this week over his usage and ineffectiveness. "He's a competitor," Saleh said Friday. "I'm actually happy that he's a little frustrated, 'cause it means that he's all in and he wants to be a part of it. He wants to get reps. He wants to play. He's not here to just collect a paycheck.

"So, yeah, if he wasn't frustrated, then I'd think something was wrong. But it's natural — he's a competitor. You're allowed to be frustrated but still all in, and his leadership in the locker room has been unbelievable.”

I get that Dalvin is frustrated, but his frustration should be inward as opposed to outward. His frustrations should be on his lack of effectiveness as opposed to his lack of usage. Stop telling us you want the ball and show us what you can do with it. 39 carries for 109 yards isn’t cutting it.

There should be no reason for Saleh and OC Nathaniel Hackett to go out of their way to get Cook touches for any other reason at this point then to get Hall some rest.

Hall continues to be a special player any time he touches the ball. Saleh said of Hall “the hot hand continues to get the ball because they're feeling something and you just let it roll. And to Breece's credit, I mean, it feels like, every time he touches the ball, something cool is happening. So, he's been the hot hand. He's been getting the bulk of the carries.

With the trade deadline coming up this Tuesday, Cook said he will speak to Jets general manager Joe Douglas regarding the possibility of a trade. Cook wanted to make it clear he wasn't seeking a trade, but is willing to do what's "best for everybody."

"It's something I can't control, that my name is being floated around in trade rumors," Cook said. "It might be a good thing. Maybe (it's) a bad thing."

It sounds like this is going to lead to an eventual end of Cook’s tenure with the Jets. At this point it sounds like Saleh is simply saying the right things to pump up Cook’s trade value as well as be prepared in the event he remains with the team to not alienate the player.

Dalvin, best of luck wherever you wind up. But I won’t miss 2.8 yards per carry.

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Featured image via Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports